Most hassle free setup for NeoGeo gaming (2025)

With all the current options available - what is the most hassle free setup for NeoGeo gaming?
I look at my xbox one x, collecting dust - I didn't even connect it any more. Usually I have the time to play once a week and when I start the console it decides that I need half an hour of updates.

I still have a CMVS that I built myself, which is the reason I don't want to put it on the shelf with the kids at home (yes, I'm that good with building stuff, I was even amazed that I got everything working with my crappy soldering skills)

That said, what is your opinion for the most hassle free setup if you just want to play the old stuff as close to the original as possible:

• Emulation on the PC is not an option, I just don't want to go through the hoops of booting, system updates, etc. all the time
• AES is obviously easy - but we all know the price situation, perhaps with a Terraonion module and some cheap originals like SS2
• MVS is possible by buying a CMVS, but needs a lot of aquisition and isn't too much to look at on the shelf (apart from custom shock boxes)
• How good is a Mista setup? I heard they became pretty good, what I don't want is more fiddling than a multicart menu

Thanks for your input.

Are you asking in general, or specifically for you? Because it seems like you already answered your own questions: You already have a CMVS. If you're willing to deal with a flash cart menu and no more than that, then just get a NeoSD for your CMVS. As you mentioned, you can do the same with an AES too.

Mister is very easy and hassle-free once it's setup, but you seemed to indicate you didn't want to deal with it. I will say with the tutorials and install packages out there now, it's pretty idiot-proof. I don't care much about kids damaging the Mister compared to a real Neo Geo, but some may disagree with that since the DE10-Nano is so expensive now.

Neo Alec said:

Are you asking in general, or specifically for you? Because it seems like you already answered your own questions: You already have a CMVS. If you're willing to deal with a flash cart menu and no more than that, then just get a NeoSD for your CMVS. As you mentioned, you can do the same with an AES too.

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General to get some feedback on my own scenario.
Would have to get a new CMVS for that (I'm not 100% confident in the build quality of my own) and heard mixed reviews about the NeoSD.
Also the NeoSD seems to be out of stock, and they are taking preorders for December 2023 there...

As for the Mister that's nice to know, thank you - I don't mind setting it up once, I just don't want to update all the time or go through a lot of motions for playing a single game in the evening.

I would vote for the mister. It does have a learning curve, but it's lessened a lot these days. It's Neo Geo core is excellent, made by Furrtek by decapping the chips (in other words, extremely accurate).

And once it is setup, it's a joy to use. You get the added bonus of tons of arcade games and other consoles too. The arcade games can even be updated by just running a single command, roms and all.

BerryTogart said:

I just don't want to go through the hoops of booting, system updates

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This is actually why I like the mister so much. It boots up practically instantly, and has no shut down sequence. Just turn it off when you are done.

It does have updates, but it's up to you when to install them. I haven't updated a couple of my misters in years since they work just fine.

I have an aes with a NeoSD, but I always use my mister to actually play neo geo games.

Your CMVS and NeoSD Pro MVS or Darksoft cart is the easiest and most authentic way to go.

Otherwise a Mister or PC emulation is the way to go. It's not like PC updates are that much of a pain. Just get a solid ROM set, MAME, a good and easy to use frontend like Launchbox, and disconnect the network. You don't have to constantly update MAME and ROM sets if you don't want to, Windows doesn't need updates if it's offline, and Launchbox is worth updating but not necessary.

Neo Alec said:

You don't have to update the Mister at all if you like how it's already working. But when you do, update_all is super easy to use.

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Yeh.

Don't even need to be AT the mister. Just use PuTTy to SSH in and you don't have to do anything but literally type "update_all.sh" and off it goes.

@BerryTogart I know you said not emulation...but you really might want to look into Fightcade.

Fightcade 2 is extremely easy to set up, the FBNeo Emulator it uses as a back end is very accurate, the Fightcade front end has a robust, built in training mode that supports many, games, and you get rollback netcode for online play and the largest pool of gamers playing these classic games anywhere.

You can play just about any 2D arcade game you can think of solo or with anyone else. It's really awesome and I'd say it's overall easier to get up and running than Mister. Once it's set up, there is no messing with it and updates are automatic. The most "configuring" you'll really need to do is set your input settings for each game you play - but it's only once per game and your config is saved.

Just something to consider that's entirely free.

yagamikun said:

@BerryTogart I know you said not emulation...but you really might want to look into Fightcade.

Fightcade 2 is extremely easy to set up, the FBNeo Emulator it uses as a back end is very accurate, the Fightcade front end has a robust, built in training mode that supports many, games, and you get rollback netcode for online play and the largest pool of gamers playing these classic games anywhere.

You can play just about any 2D arcade game you can think of solo or with anyone else. It's really awesome and I'd say it's overall easier to get up and running than Mister. Once it's set up, there is no messing with it and updates are automatic. The most "configuring" you'll really need to do is set your input settings for each game you play - but it's only once per game and your config is saved.

Just something to consider that's entirely free.

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Fightcade will also download any missing roms if you setup the json files.

I appreciate the feedback all, thank you.
I had Fightcade up and running on my laptop and it's great. The "problem" is (and yes, this is a totally personal knack) I usually only have 20 to 30 mins of time where I want to play. With all the motions around starting fightcade (boot windows, connect to tv, startup, etc.) it's just too much overhead for my taste.

I'm a stupid old fucker that just wants to turn on the power and go. That said I'm looking for a more "permanent" setup. It seems more feasible to either go the MISTer route or if I'm feeling decadent trying to get an AES with RGB - I still have the XRGB mini at my TV - currently the Mega Drive is hooked up there with a SD cart).

HellioN said:

AES with MVS converter.

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As much as I sometimes want this to be the answer, he said "hassle-free," so it's a non-started to me. Just the act of inserting the game and converter is difficult enough, but even then with the best converter I sometimes get glitchy graphics or the odd weirdness.

I think converters are ideal for AES collectors who want to be able to add various MVS games to their collection which are too expensive on AES. But if you just want to play MVS carts, there are better options.

In the end, no surprise - there's no easier (click-play) option than an AES.
Sorry.

It's still a fun thing to have though, and the Chinese multicarts are serviceable enough if you want to play most of the library without selling (too much of) your body.

NeoSD Pro AES back in stock...

Heinz said:

Setting up the mister was easy, too easy, so easy in fact that I don't even use it.

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Oi! You lookin to sell then?

wataru330 said:

Oi! You lookin to sell then?

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Nah coz then I'll want to buy stuff again

Seems it comes down to AES + NeoSD vs MISTer for me.
Price wise and also looking at the SOTM I'm leaning towards the MISTer, as the general feedback was that it works very well with little upkeep after the initial setup.
For AES it would be interesting to get some originals with it which don't break the bank. (SS2, WH2Jet, SuperSidekicks 2 - yes, I like my 2s) - but perhaps thats just a pointless collectard itch.

I checked some pricings and the MISTer PRO seems to be around € 550,-, what does an AES with unibios and RGB go for nowadays? (ebay suggests something like € 400-500 without the NeoSD, if I go that route I'll rather try here though because of modding quality/trust)